Angel Hair with Creamy Chicken Mushroom Sauce

Angel Hair with Creamy Chicken Mushroom Sauce

This recipe was inspired by a wonderful meal my sister- in- law Cynthia, brought us the night before we moved back East.  The kids LOVED it! Cynthia is a mother of four and a pediatrician, needless to say, she is one amazing and busy woman!  However busy she is, she still had time to bring us a beautiful meal when we needed it.  Isn't it amazing how a delicious hot meal is often one of the the best presents you can ever give or get?  Cynthia's recipe had some canned soup and I think a soup mix involved, but I wanted to be able to make this meal with out using those items. I came up with this recipe that my kids love and is made with ingredients I have on hand. Best of all you can make this meal within 45 minutes.  Fresh, easy and pretty fast. 

1 lb. angel hair pasta, cooked according to package directions, 1 cup pasta water reserved

3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, chopped into small pieces

1 lb. any kind of mushrooms, sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced

scant ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 tablespoon chicken or vegetable bouillon granules

1 teaspoon of each parsley, oregano and basil

¼ teaspoon black pepper

8 ounces cream cheese

1 cup white wine or apple juice

1-1½ cups half and half or hot pasta water

First, chop chicken into small pieces. Slice mushrooms and mince garlic.  Set aside.  In large heavy skillet, brown chicken and mushrooms, garlic and spices in 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil.  When browned nicely and almost cooked through, tear cream cheese into chunks and drop on top on chicken and mushrooms.  Add white wine or apple juice, and deglaze pan, by scraping browned bits off the bottom of pan.  This will just take a minute.  Add 1- 1 ½ cups of half and half or pasta water, and simmer until thickened into a sauce.  Season with additional salt and fresh ground pepper. Toss sauce with cooked pasta until pasta is well coated.  Pour into large pasta bowl.  OR place desired amount of pasta onto plates, top with chicken and mushroom sauce and top with grated Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese.